Merck Moves into Liquid Crystal Windows with Acquisition of Peer+

Liquid crystal windows can switch rapidly from light to dark, offering light and temperature management that can improve the energy efficiency of a building. The windows consist of two panes of glass, the inward-facing sides of which are covered with a transparent, electrically conductive oxide layer as well as a polyimide orientation layer. The gap between the coated substrates is filled with a liquid crystal mixture.

Merck said it is seeking to develop mass production capacity for liquid crystal windows to be used in custom facades starting next year. It said solar cells can be integrated into liquid crystal windows, and that continuously variable dimming and segmented switching will be possible in the future.